Overwhelming rejection of the European Union (EU) constitution in the Netherlands on Wednesday dealt another blow to the EU's first constitutional charter, escalating the ratification crisis within the 25-nation bloc.  

As many as 63 percent of Dutch voters were against the constitution, with merely 37 percent in favor, said the Dutch TV NOS after the voting ended at 9:00 PM (1900 GMT).

The overwhelming "no" has made the Netherlands the second founding EU member state to reject the EU charter after France.

While opponents were celebrating their victory in Amsterdam, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende made a statement on the NOS, saying the ratification process of the EU constitution in other EU countries should go on despite the failure in the Netherlands.

"The Dutch people have spoken tonight. It is a clear result. Naturally I am very disappointed," said Balkenende, but noting he respected the results.

For the Netherlands' first-ever referendum, Balkenende said the turnout, at 62 percent, was a "positive signal."

He also said a Dutch "no" to the EU constitution does not mean they said "no" to the European society.

Since it was the Dutch parliament that decided to hold the referendum, it is up to the parliament to say "what next," Balkenende said.

The referendum is not legally binding. Congress has the final say in ratifying the constitution. But all political parties in parliament have agreed to "honor the public advice" if the turnout is above 30 percent.

Party leaders in parliament said on Wednesday night that they will respect the public opinion, and will not ratify the constitution.

The Dutch "no," though predictable beforehand, still shook the EU headquarters in Brussels.

European Parliament President Josep Borrell Fontelles, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, whose country holds the current EU presidency, and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso made a joint statement right after the results of the Dutch referendum were known.

At a joint press conference, they pledged that Europe can find a way out in settling the ratification crisis of the EU constitution.

"We are confident that together and in partnership -- national governments, European institutions, political parties, civil society -- we will know how to find the means to move the European Union toward an enduring consensus as to its identity, its objectives and its means," they said in the joint statement.

Saying they respect the Dutch choice, the trio expressed confidence that the EU charter makes the EU "more democratic, more effective and stronger."

The EU's first constitutional treaty, signed by EU leaders last October in Rome, needs the ratification from all 25 EU members. Nine states have so far ratified the treaty, two rejected while another 14 member states have not yet done the job.

The EU leaders called on other EU members to continue the ratification process despite rejection by the Netherlands and France.

"All member states must be able to express themselves on the project of the Constitutional Treaty," they said.

However, due to the complicated situation, Luxembourg, the current holder of the EU presidency, has decided that the EU summit on June 16-17 "could usefully carry out a serious collective analysis of the situation."

"Furthermore, we hear the messages sent by the citizens of France and the Netherlands on the European project and we note them well. The European institutions will listen to the concerns of European citizens and they will come together to offer a response," said the EU leaders in their statement.

(Xinhua News Agency June 3, 2005)